Guard for flare suspension means



Jun@ 30, 1936. .1. M. KING GUARD FOR FLARE SUSPENSION MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1935 Invent nr' JET-LTL VLK'u-Lgl Att urn E Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a flare of the type which is dropped from aircraft.

Flares are provided with Various devices Whereby they are adapted to be supported on different kinds of aircraft preparatory tol being launched into space. The ares are carried in bomb racks, in racks on the wings, and in the oor or side of the fuselage.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for readily covering one of the idle suspension devices to prevent fouling of an element of the launching mechanism.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation and partly in section of a ilare.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in side elevation of one end of the flare showing the application of the guard to the suspension hook.

Fig. 3 is an inside view in elevation of the guard.

Fig. 4 is a View on side elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown a flare comprising a case 5 which is closed at one end by a removable cover 6. The cover is adapted to be removed, when the case is launched, by means of a hangwire 'I, one end of which is attached to the cover and the other end of which carries a ring or loop 8 whereby it is attached to the aircraft.

A pair of similar bands S-S mounted in spaced relation on the case and each one carries a ring IIJ. The rings of the pair of bands are aligned and constitute a suspension device when the ilare is to be carried in a bomb rack or wing rack by means of the conventional cable (not shown).

A hook II having its body I 2 iixed to the case near the cover 6 constitutes a suspension device when the flare is to be carried in the iioor or on the side of the fuselage. When the hook is not to be used it is covered by a guard of spring metal. The guard consists of a body I 3 adapted to overlie the outer free end of the hook, a curved end I4 adapted tov snap over the curved position of the 10 hook, and a tail I5 which is inclined and extends from the end of the hook to the case to close the opening of the hook. A bent extremity I6 of the tail bears against the end of the body I2 of the hook I I. The body I3 is formed at its side with a 15 pair of channeled guides I'I-I 'I which receive the vfree end of the hook and serve to hold the guard against lateral displacement.

The guard being of spring metal, is readily applied to and removed from the hook. When applied it serves to prevent fouling of the hangwire 1 when the flare is launched.

I claim:

1. A case, a suspension means for the case comprising a hook having a body fixed to the case, a guard formed of spring metal and having channeled guides for engaging the free end of the hook, a curved extremity for engaging the curved portion of the hook, an inclined portion between the hook and the case, and a bent extremity on the inclined portion for bearing against the case at the end of the body of the hook.

2. A case, a hook on the case, a guard formed of spring metal and having channeled guides for engaging the free end of the hook, a curved extremity for engaging the curved portion of the hook, and an inclined portion between the hook and the case.

JOHN M. KING. 

